Steam-engine



(No Model.)

I. 0. MORTON. STEAM ENGINE.

No. 349,171. Patented Sept. 14, 1886.

f Z 7 6 (J9 y -fiz/e'ro'b fiawg w 7 i UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

FREDERIO OHAUNOEY MORTON, OF CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEAM ENGlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,171, datedSeptember 14-. 1886.

Application filed December 26, 1885. Serial No. 186,769. No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERIC CHAUNOEY MORTON, of Chelsea, county ofSuffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an 1m- 5 provement inSteam-Engines, of which the following description, in connection withthe accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on thedrawings representing like parts. My invention is herein shown embodiedin a steam -engine designed to be used where a very high speed isdesired, and has for its object to improve and simplify the constructionof the class known as highspeed engines.

My invention consists, essentially, of a con- I taining-case, one ormore chambers within said case, and a vibrating piston within each ofsaid chambers, combined with a piston valve or valves reciprocating in avalve chest or chests communicating with said piston-chambers, saidvalve or valves controlling the operation of the vibrating pistons, aswill be hereinafter fully described."

My invention consists, also, in providing the vibrating-piston chambersreferred to with additional exhaust-ports at or near one end thereof,whereby the steam within said chambers may exhaust into the interior ofthe containing-case.

My invention further consists in details of construction, to behereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims at the end of thisspecification.

Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal section and elevation of asteam-engine embodying my invention, the crank-shaft, its cranks, andthe connectingrods of the pistons being in elevation; Fig. 2, a sectionof Fig. 1 in line it as, looking toward the left; and Fig. 3, aninverted view of one of the vibrating pistons.

The crank-shaft A of the engine, provided with the usual fly-wheel, B,is supported in journal-bearings a in opposite sides of a case,

A, the said journal-bearings being herein shown inserted throughopenings in sides of 5 the said case, and secured thereto by screws a',said bearings formingcovers for said openings. The bearings have usualstuffing-boxes, 12.

The cranks a a? on the crank shaft A are herein shown as setsubstantially opposite, and

have attached to them the connecting-rods a a? of the vibrating orpivoted pistons a a ar-' ranged to oscillate in chambers b If, as willbe hereinafter fully described.

The sides of the case A are cast to leave at their upper ends a flange,as at b, which supports a box, A-, divided so as to form a steamchest,I), and valve-chests b b, the bottom I) of said box forming a top platefor the case A, said box being secured to the case A by screws W. Thechambers b b in which the pistons a a oscillate, are formed at the upperpart of the interior of the case A by metal ribs b integral with saidcase, the bottom plate, if, of the box A forming the top or ceiling ofsaid chambers, and the metal ribs 1) side walls of the same, as shown inFig. 1. Each rib b is cut away or notched, as at 2, to formexhaust-ports for the chambers I) b*, said ports communicating with the.interior of the case A. Each vibrating piston, of substantially theshape shown in Fi 3, is composed of a top plate,c, longitudinal trusses0, connected at their ends by thickened grooved portions 0' 0", and neartheir center by acrosstruss, c. The groove 0" in one of the thickenedportions referred to of each piston forms a bearing for wrist-pin a,there being one for each piston, as shown in section, Fig. 2, and inelevation, Fig. 1, and the groove 0 in the other thickened portion ofeach of said pistons rests upon and is shaped to partially surround arod, I), (shown in section, Fig. 2,) said rod being preferably extendedthrough the case A and supported in the sides of said case, said pistonsrocking upon said supportingrod.

The grooved thickened portion a of each piston has a hook, d, (see Figs.1, 2, and 3,) which enters an eye in the connecting-rod of each piston,each connecting-rod being fitted into a longitudinal slot in thewrist-pin c be longing to said piston, said hook serving to securelyunite the vibrating piston, its wristpin, and connecting-rod, as shownin Fig. thns p'reventing accidents which might arise from adisengagement of said parts.

The rod b, forming a rocking or pivotal support for each vibratingpiston, causes said pistons to describe an arc of a'circle both whenforced downward by steam and when carried upward by the momentum of thecrankshaft A.

IOO

Steam is admitted to the steam-chest b through the opening 5, said steampassing from the steam-chest I) to the valve-chest I) through the portor passage 6', thence from said valve-chest into the chamber 1) bypassage 0 Admission of steam to the chamber 1) is controlled by apiston-valve, f, preferably balanced, as shown in Fig. 1, said valvebeing herein shown as connected by rod f 2 to an cecentric, f, on thecrankshaft, revolution of the crank-shaft producing a reciprocation ofsaid piston-valve to open and then close the port or passage 0". Theport 6 may eomn1u nicate at all times with the valve-chest; or it may beclosed when the port 0" communicates with the exhaust.

The chamber Zfis connected with the valve chest I) by the passage 7.,the passage or port It connecting said valve-chest with the steamchestI).

The admission of steam from the steamchest I) to the chamber 1) iscontrolled by a piston-valve, 752, preferably balanced and connected byrod 76 with an eccentric, k, on the crank-shaft.

The eccentrics f it are herein shown as set substantially opposite onthe crank-shaft A, in order that when one piston-valve, as 7;", is aboutto uncover the passage 7; to admit steam to the chamber If, thus forcingthe piston a downward, the other valve, as f, will commence to open thepassage 0", placing the same in communication with the interior of caseA, thus affording an exhaust-passage for the steam in the chamber I), asshown in Fig. 1.

The valve-chests b I) are herein shown as connected with the interior ofcase A by exhaust-passages ff, respectively.

The case Ais provided with an outlet-port, a, for the exhaust-steam,said port having connected to it pipe (not herein shown) which conveyssaid exhaust-steam away to the atmosphere or to a condenser.

Inside each chamber 1) b, and at one end thereof, is an arcpiece, 7:,herein shown as held in place by bolts h, extended through the sides ofthe case A, as shown in Fig. 2.

The arc-pieces referred to are herein shown as notched or cut away attheir lower ends, as at 4, to form additional exhaust-ports, by which tofacilitate the exhaust of steam from said chambers into the case A, thepistons a a near the end of their downward stroke, un covering saidports and the ports 2, formed in the walls b of the chambers 0 5", thusproviding for a most rapid exhausta dcsideratum specially sought for inhigh-speed engines.

Each piston is herein shown as provided with suitable packing, on, (seeFigs. 1 and 3,) placed in a slot in the sides of the top plate, 0, and apacking, m, at its wrist-pin end, (see Fig. 2,) the latter rubbingagainst the arepiece It. Apacking, m, in a slot in the under face of theplate I) prevents leakage at the rocking support of the pistons.

Each journal-bearing a has its upper part cut away, as at a, (see Fig.1,) to expose the shaft A to the action of exhaust-steam, saidexhaust-steam carrying with it particles of oil which serve to lubricatesaid shaft.

Access to the interior of case A is obtained through an opening, a,closed by a cover, a, secured to said case by bolts a".

I do not desire to limit myself to the means shown to reciprocate thepiston-valves, as the same might be accomplished in other wellknownways.

Many forms of piston-valves might be used in connection with my improvedengine; and so I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myselftothe form of piston-valve shown. It is also evident that myinveution isequally applicable to an engine having but one ehanr her and onevibrating piston.

Instead of having the pistons rock on the rod I), said rod may beintegral with the pistons and rock in its bearings in the sides of thecase A; but I prefer the arrangement shown.

As a modification of my engine, I may extend the laps aand 9- of thevalves and 7:", respectively, so that said laps will not uncover theadmission-ports e and It, to permit steam from the chambers Z) I)" toexhaust through said ports, in which case the steam will exhaustthroughthe ports 2 and 4, when said latter ports are uncovered by the vibratingpistons.

Iclaim 7 1. In an engine, a case, one or more chanr bers within saidcase, a vibrating or oscillating piston in each of said chambers, a mainor crank shaft, and a connecting-rod attached to said shaft for eachpiston, said connecting rod being joined to its vibrating piston at ornear the end opposite to the center of oscillation of said piston,combined with a pistonvalve reciprocating in a valve-chest, one for eachchamber, said valve or valves controlling the operation of the vibratingpiston or pistons, the combination being and operating substantially asdescribed.

2. In an engine, a case, one or more chambers within said case, avibrating or oscillating piston within each of said chambers, saidchambers being provided with an inlet port or ports, and withexhaust-ports independent of the inlet-ports, said exhaust-ports beingcontrolled by the vibrating piston within said chamber, combined with avalve or valves, one for each of said chambers, to control the admissionof steam thereto, the combination being and ope 'ating substantially asdescribed.

3. The case, one or more chambers within said case, and a vibrating oroscillating piston within each chamber, combined with a valve for eachof said chambers, and with an independent arc -piece provided withexhaustports for each chamber, substantially as described.

4. The case A, provided with vibrating-piston chambers, each having anindependent are-piece and a vibrating piston in each cham- TIC ber,combined with the shaft A and journalbearings a, cut away, as at a, saidbearings being supported by said case, substantially as described.

5. The case A, provided with vibrating-piston chambers havingarc-pieces, and vibrating pistons in said chambers, combined with thebearings a, cut away, as at n, and supported by said casefand with thebox A", supported by the case A, and provided with the slot at itsunderside to receive the packing in for the vibrating piston,substantially as described.

6. The caseA, vibrating-piston chambers contained therein, vibratingpistons in said chambers, each of said pistons being provided with thesafety-hook d, combined with a connecting-rod for each piston, saidconnectingrod having an eye through which the hook d is passed, as andfor the purposespecified.

7. In an engine, a case provided with independent vibrating-pistonchambers and a vibrating piston in each of said chambers, combined withthe shaft A, )rovided with cranks,

- one for each of said pistons and located within the case, and setsubstantiallyas described, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The case A, provided with vibrating-piston chambers and vibratingpistons therein,

combined with the shaft A, provided with cranks set substantiallyopposite, and with journal-bearings a for said shaft, saidjournalbearings being cut away, as at n, to expose said shaft, as andfor the purpose specified.

contained therein, vibrating pistons within said chambers, said pistonsbeing composed of a top plate, longitudinal trusses, anda cross truss ortrusses, said longitudinal trusses being connected at their ends bygrooved thickened portions 0* 0 said portion 0" having a safety-hook, d,combined with a connectingrod for each of said pistons, saidconnectingrod having an eye through which the hook (I is passed, as andfor the purpose specified.

10. In an engine, the case A, and a chamber therein having side wallsprovided with exhaust-ports, combined with a vibrating piston, and witha crank and shaft operated thereby, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERIC CHAUNCEY MORTON.

Witnesses: I

G. W. GREGORY, J. H. CHURCHILL.

9. The case A, vibrating-piston chambers

